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A New Direction Jobs and Infrastructure

Posted|April 14, 2015

Progressive Conservative Party Leader Rob Lantz and local area candidates today released their party’s jobs and infrastructure platform at a news conference in Pleasant Valley.

Lantz stressed the importance of previously announced accountability measures to help stabilize the investment climate for both local and off-Island capital going forward in response to the ongoing eGaming scandal.

“The entrepreneurial spirit beats deep within Islanders and that spirit must be encouraged to grow our economy. We need a new direction that creates the proper climate for the private sector to invest, grow and create jobs," said Lantz.

Lantz identified five areas of focus for future growth: access to capital, energy costs, infrastructure, reduction of red tape, and capitalizing on new opportunities. Lantz outlined a series of proposals to strengthen local infrastructure and create the proper climate for private sector investment to grow the economy and job growth.

Highlights of the platform include an Island Futures Fund for capital investment, a micro-lending fund for small business startups, a smart grid power network pilot, a community infrastructure program, an Island Food First strategy for public institutions, allowing public servants up to three-year leaves from work to start new businesses, and developing an Island Film and Digital Media tax incentive package modeled on the discontinued Nova Scotia program.